Wheel-holder for use in journal-box repairs.



R. T. HOPKINS. WHEEL HOLDER FOR USE IN JOURNAL BOX REPAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.8. I914.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.,WAsHlNGTON. D. cv

ROBERT :1. norxrns, or wmsTontsA-Lni/r, nonrn CAROLINA.

WHEEL-HOLDER Foe IN iroURNAnBox REPAIRS.

igisaess.

To all whom it may concern: v i

7 Be it known that I, Bonsai Fl. Hornrns, a citizen of the United States, residingat Winston-Salem, in the county of Forsyth and State of vNorth Carolina, have -invented certain new and useful Improvements in V Wheel-Holders for Use in Journal Box Repairs, of whiehthe following is a specification, reference. being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

. This invention rel'atesto an improved de} vice for use in repairing journal boxes, and contemplates the provision of simple,1:efiective means for keeping the Wheel and axle in fixed relation to the track when the journal box is raised to permit insertion or witha o h beari gs Considerable difficulty hasbeen experibers adapted to rest onuthe lower flange of the Wheel while the journal box is being raised. a a I Instrumentalities adapted to connect the upper flange of the wheelvviththe jjournal box frequently damage either the flange or box, and do not prevent longitudinal move ment of the wheel and axle. Those which;

require the partial rotation of the wheel are also impractical, for the reason that it is 7 well nigh impossible in a long train, to efiect the desired rotation without damage to the rigging, framework, or other portion of the car to which the device is secured.

A connection which will maintain wheel, axle and track rail in fixed relation, which will be capable of withstanding great strain, and which will prevent longitudinal movement of the wheel and axle when the box is raised, is the proper solution of this problem. Turn buckles and the like for adjustments, are impractical.

stripped, and if made sufiiciently strong to stand the strain they would be too cumbersome. The connection must also be made in Specification of Letters Patent.

7 The strain is so great that threads will be mutilated or Patented Nov. 2, 1 915.

Application filcdflctober-S, 1914. Serial No. 835,724.

such a manner as ,to avoid contact with brakewbeams, shoes, rigging-,etc., and my invention is devised with the object of elimi nating the difficulties stated, and fulfilling the obj ects enumerated.

It may further be mentioned among the objects. of this invention, that a simple, practic'al, light,compact device which may be easily carried from .place to place, quickly applied and removed, andwhich will be economical of manufactureis a 'desideratum. Heretofore, repairs to bearings took up so much time, and tied up traffic for such a lengthof time, that frequently cars were taken from trains and side-tracked rather than attempt it. If they contained perishable goods, damage naturally resulted. Wrecks also resulted from the fact that rather than lose the time required to stop and repair a bearing engineers preferred to take a chance of reaching their destinationbefore the bearing gave out.

Tllhe device comprising the subject matter of the present invention islight, strong, compact, and being easily applied and removed, facilitates quick repairs of bearings. It maybe used by one man,.where it frequently required a whole crew; it will maintainthe wheel and axleagainst longitudinal movement; and fulfil other objects and ad vantages whichwill in part be obvious, and in part be .made clear in the description which follows. a

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the following views being shown :Figure 1, is :a view elevation showing .a practical application of one form of the device; Fig. 2, is a similar view of one of the components; Fig. 3, 1s a similar new of another component. Fig. 4, is a detail view of a rail attachment.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a portion of a car truck, comprising a wheel, axle, journal box, rigging, etc., resting on a rail 2. For the purpose of securing the wheel to the rail when the journal box is jacked up to repair the bearings, and maintain the axle in fixed position, I provide a device, one form of which will now be described.

It consists essentially of a plurality of rail engaging hook members having a body portion 3 adapted to engage the under surface of the base of the rail, a hooked portion .4; to catch in the edge of the base, and

7 an eye for the reception of connecting:

members 6, here shown as links. These connecting members are joined at their opposite ends to a joining member 7 in the present embodiment shown as a ring, to which is also secured a hook 8.

An axle encircling member 9 is secured at one end to the member 7, and carries at its opposite end a hook or the like 10. The instrumentality just described forms one component of the apparatus whichmay be used separately, or in conjunction with the auxiliary holding element which will noW be described. This auxiliary component comprises clamping members '11, adapted to embrace the head of the rail,'and joined by a connecting member 12, so arranged that pressure thereon in an 'upwarddirection tends to clam'p'the members 11 more securely to the head of the rail.

In practical application, the hook members are slipped beneath the railat opposite sides ofthe Wheel, and secured to the edge of the base in front of the wheel. The axle encircling member 9 is brought around the axle on the inside of the wheel and pulled taut, when the hook 10 is secured to a'link of the axle encircling member. The journal may now be jacked up to remove the bearings, but in the event that excessive weight or other conditions may render an auxiliary holding element desirable, the

, clamping members are placed in position on the head of the rail, the connecting member 12 placed in the hook 8, and the clamps spread apart on opposite sides of the wheel until the member 12 is taut, when the lifting of the journal may be accomplished.

This arrangement permits a great strain upon the securing devices without slipping or damage to the truck, as the application is such that all of the parts are clear of brake 1 rods, beams, and all parts ofthe truck.

The device forming the subject of the present invention is simple, strong, light, easily applied, and has in practical use fulfilled the objects and advantages above enumerated.

While I have illustrated my invention in V the embodiment herein shown, it will beun-V. derstood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction of this disclosure, nor to any particular mannerin which the same has been, or maybe carried'into effect, as many changes in the construction and ar-, rangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention,

or'sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is1 c 1. Awheel and axle holdingdevice com prising in combination a plurality of hook members adapted to be secured to the base of a rail; connecting members secured to said hook members; a joining member secured to said connecting members; an axle" encircling member secured to said joining member and a' securing 'instrumentality carried by said axle encirclingmember.

2. A wheel and axle holder comprising a o pluralityof hook members adapted to be secured to a rail, connecting members secured to said hook members, a o1n1ngmemberse-' cured to said connectingmembers, an axle 7 another component.

In testimony whereof I aifix my'signature 1n the presence of two subscrlblng Witnesses.

ROBERTET. HOPKINS, Witnesses: W

CHAS. L. WV -IITMAN, E. Do 'rHEr;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

